BVI companies, Indemnification and protection of directors after resignation.

An underlying principle of company law has been that a company should be managed for the main purpose of increasing its share price, or as some put it returning “shareholder value”. Against this backdrop of the interest of the shareholders being paramount and the main driver in the pursuit of profits, there is also the need to give directors, who manage the company, a certain latitude to be able to take risks within certain parameters. This brings into sharp focus the need for indemnification and D&O insurance as a means of protecting management, provided that they operate within the rules, whilst they go about the business of maximising shareholder value.

BVI law provides for directors, former directors and in certain cases, other persons to be indemnified and the law is reasonably clear on that and on the advancement of expenses in that context but what is less clear are the risks that former directors face and how, after resignation, one might attempt to alleviate those risks.

Who may be indemnified under the Act?

The following persons may (subject to the company's Memorandum or Articles of Association) be indemnified by a BVI company under the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 (the "Act"):

1. a director of the BVI company

2. a former director of the BVI company

3. a director of another company or other enterprise (with or without legal personality), serving as such at the request of the BVI company.

4. a former director of another company or other enterprise (with or without legal personality), serving as such at the request of the BVI company.

5. a person in another capacity (other than as a director) and acting for another company or other enterprise (with or without legal personality), serving as such at the request of the BVI company.

6. a person formerly serving in another capacity (other than as a director) for another company, or other enterprise (with or without legal personality), serving as such at the request of the BVI company.

Is Indemnification mandatory?

None of the persons referred to above may be indemnified by the BVI company unless they acted honestly and in good faith and in what they believed to be in the best interests of the company. A purported indemnity in breach of the honesty and good faith requirement is void. Furthermore, such a person must be indemnified by the company if he has been successful in the defence of any proceedings.

Otherwise, subject to the foregoing (in particular the category of persons that may be indemnified and the honesty and good faith requirement) indemnification is permitted under the law and the relevant provisions are usually set out in the company's Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Advancement of Expenses

Owing to the fact that the person seeking to be indemnified must be "successful in the defence of any proceedings" or must act "honestly and in good faith", it means that the issue of the cost of defending the proceedings can be a concern and accordingly, BVI law provides for the company to be able to advance expenses to the director or former director. This occurs in much the same way that a company may advance credit subject to an undertaking, by the director or former director to be indemnified, to repay if it shall ultimately be determined by the court that that person is not entitled to be indemnified. The reference to "ultimately be determined" is a reference to final determination by a court or the final appeal. There is no statutory requirement that expenses be advanced as the section states that "Expenses ....may be paid".

Memorandum and Articles

So it is clear that the general thrust of the indemnification provisions is such that (a) certain categories of persons may be indemnified, (b) indemnification only flows if certain conditions are present, (c) it is mandatory in one situation and (d) the law recognises the difficulty attached to the cost of defending proceedings and provides for the advancement of expenses (but this is not mandatory). However as the indemnification provisions are almost invariably in the company's Memorandum and Articles, that fact has a direct impact on a former director. A director of a BVI company is not a party to the statutory contract that is the Memorandum and Articles. Pursuant to section 11 of the Act, the Memorandum and Articles are binding as between (a) the company and each member of the company; and (b) each member of the company. Directors are not a party and there is no privity of contract. Third party enforcement rights are not permitted under BVI law. Accordingly a director or former director is not able to enforce any provisions of the Memorandum and Articles. More importantly, he is also not able to prevent an amendment to the Memorandum and Articles to remove the indemnification provisions or the advancement of expenses provisions on which a former director might have placed reliance. Whilst the fact that members may amend the Memorandum and Articles to the detriment of the former directors may appear quite draconian, it is unfortunately a reality and one that a former director would do well to consider.

Separate Contractual Arrangements

Because the Memorandum and Articles of the company can potentially be amended to remove the ability to indemnify or advance expenses to former directors, it is advisable for the director to require a separate agreement with the company. Such an agreement should not of course be amended without the consent of both parties. In that way, the director has more control over the indemnification process and is not subject to the whims of others after he has left the company.

Conclusion

Quite a lot of responsibility is placed on the shoulders of directors of a company in terms of the very fundamental principle of shareholder value. Directors are expected to demonstrate greater returns year after year and there is accordingly an inherent if unspoken demand for risk so as to be able to produce those returns. Directors naturally want such protection as the law may afford. It would be remiss of a director or former director to fail to consider their position both before and after they cease to be a director. Whilst one is a director there is an element of control over the company and specifically the issue of indemnification and advancement of expenses but as soon as one resigns that is lost and it becomes very important to have had in place an indemnification agreement over which one has some authority.

DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

*With LinkedIn, you don't need to create a separate login to manage your free JD Supra account, and we can make suggestions based on your needs and interests. We will not post anything on LinkedIn in your name. Or, sign up using your email address.